Manifolding pack



Oct. 7, 1941. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING PACK Filed Jan. 12, 1929' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

' Oct. 7, 1941. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING PACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1929 /0. INV EI VTOR Patented Oct. 7, 1941 momma PACK Arthur A. Johnson, Bridgeport, Com, assignor to Autographic Register Company, Hoboken, N. 1., a company of New Jersey Application January 12, 1929, Serial No. 332,063

4-5 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of manifold ing, and more particularly to means for facilitating the removal of certain of the sheets from a pile of sheets, usually the transfer or carbon sheets which are interleaved with work sheets usually in the form of printed record sheets.

Heretofore for this purpose, it was customary to provide the worksheets and the carbon sheets with cut-outs or notches at diametrically opposite points across a pile, usually at the corners, permitting the worksheets to be gripped together by the fingers of the one hand without the carbon sheets being held, and at the other corner the carbon sheets to be gripped together by the fingers of the other hand without gripping the worksheets, so that by then drawing the hands apart the worksheets and carbon sheets were each separated from the other and en bloc. This is a very satisfactory way of separating the carbon sheets from the worksheets but has the disadvantage of necessitating the mutilation of the worksheets by the notching or the cutting-off of the corners thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for permitting the removal of the carbon sheets from between the worksheets with even greater facility than that above described and yet without necessitating the multilation or alteration of the form of the worksheets in any way.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use with worksheet piles formed of a plurality of worksheet strips each of indefinite length, having between each adjacent two worksheet strips a carbon sheet strip of the same length as the worksheet strips, and in which all the strips are divided into form or sheet lengths by equi-spaced transversely arranged weakening lines of severance along which the pile of strips may be torn to separate the strips into forms or sheets. When one pile of forms has been written upon, the forms and their underlying carbon sheets are torn from the body of the pile of strips.

When applied to continuous worksheet piles such as this, the present invention so provides the lines of severance on the worksheet strips and carbon sheet strips that when a pile of sheets is torn from the pile of continuous strips, the carbon sheets of that pile will have at one end a tab or finger grip portion protruding beyond the adjacent ends of the worksheets, while at the other end of each carbon sheet a cut-out or vacuity will be formed, the latter constituting grip-escape portions and being produced as a result of the severing operation, preferably produced as the result of the formation of the tab on the next adjacent carbon sheet in the strip.

Thus it will be seen that a feature of the pres ent invention is the provision of a continuous carbon sheet strip having no notches or cut-outs initially formed therein, but having the lines of severance so disposed that in the act of severing a strip into sheet lengths, a cut-out is formed in the end of one carbon sheet while a tab is formed on the next adjacent sheet of that strip.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several of the embodiments of this invention- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a manifolding booklet or pack made in accordance with the present invention, the pack being formed by zig-zag folding a pile of superposed and interleaved worksheets and carbon sheets.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a carbon sheet strip made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a pile) of worksheet strips with interleaved carbon sheet strips showing a pile of sheets severed from the strips, the drawing being exaggerated and showing the sheets spaced from each other farther than would ever occur in practice.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of part of the carbon sheet strip. showing one way of preparing the strip, in accordance with thenpresent invention.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is another view similar to Fig. 4, showing another modification.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a multiple ply roll showing the present invention embodied therein.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a pile of strips taken from the roll shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a pile of strips, showing a modification of the invention as embodied in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 shows in plan, side by side, a worksheet and a carbon sheet, with the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 reversed.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a pile of strips, showing an embodiment of the present invention wherein the tearing off of the pile of sheets along a straight edge or knife is facilitated.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the present invention is embodied in a pack Ill prepared for manifolding purposes. This pack comprises a plurality or set of record or worksheet strips ll of indefinite length, i. e. continuous, arranged one above the other and each provided with a succession of printed forms I! between each adjacent two of which there is provided lines of weakness formed by perforations l3 which constitute lines of severance along which the strip is torn to separate the strips into sheet lengths. The strips II are superposed so that the printed forms I! and weakening lines l3 are in registration.

In order that the writing on the uppermost form will be reproduced on the under form,

there is provided a set of transfer or carbon sheet strips l4, one for each two adjacent worksheet strips II. The carbon sheet I is also of indefinite length, but is of the same length as its companion worksheet strip II, and like the latter is divided into form or sheet lengths by lines of severance l5, referred to in more detail below.

The superposed and interleaved worksheet strips II and carbon sheet strips ll may be wound together on a single core to form a multiple ply roll as shown in Fig. 8, or the pile may be zig-zag folded along the lines of severance l3 and It to form a block or pack, as shown in Fig. l.

The block ill or the roll Ilia may be used in manifolding registers if desired, but is particularly adapted for use in typewriting machines, for in the latter it is advantageous to have the carbon 5 strips run coextensive with the worksheet strips, thereby avoiding the necessity of performing any operation to shift the carbon sheets backwardly from the form just written to the form next to be written. When so used, the leading ends of the strips ii and I4 are inserted in the typewriter and the form is written or filled out therein. After the work on the form has been completed.- the pile, including the work strips and carbon strips, is advanced to bring the lines of severance i3 and i5 to a position where the written sheets may be torn or severed from the adjacent portions of the continuous strips, When this operation has been performed, the resulting pile of sheets or forms consists of worksheets and their interleaved carbon sheets.

Occasionally, especially when other work is to be performed on the pile of sheets, such as the addition of prices or the fixing of a signature to act as a receipt, the carbon sheets are left interleaved with the worksheets for a time, at lea-st. However, in most cases, it is desired to immediately strip the carbon sheets from between the worksheets, so that the worksheets will not become smudged by the carbon in handling; and it is to this phase of the situation to which the present invention relates.

Heretofore, it was proposed to facilitate this stripping of the carbon sheets from the worksheets by cutting out portions of the carbon sheet strim and the worksheet strips so that when the forms and carbons are severed into sheet lengths, the cut-outs of the carbon sheets would be diametrically opposite the cut-outs of the worksheets. Thus, by gripping together the carbon sheets at the point where they are made accessible by the cut-outs of the worksheets-with fingers of the other hand, and then drawing the hands apart, the carbon sheets would be stripped en bloc from the worksheets.

This proposal has two principal disadvantages, one being that in preparing the strips the cutouts of both the carbon sheet strips and the worksheet strips' must be punched out, requiring extra time and equipment, and the other being that the worksheet which is torn from the strip is not rectangular but rather irregular or mutilated. This makes the worksheets then inconvenient to file and gives them the appearance of having been carelessely torn, or mutilated possibly to remove part of the recording therefrom. Moreover. in forming the notches in the carbon sheets and the worksheets, the pieces cut out may inadvertently become lodged on the surface of the worksheet strips or the carbon sheet strips and adhere thereto by static electricity of which there is an abundance, as is well known in machines handling paper. These cut out pieces may be so situated on the strip as to block out certain portions of the writing when the strips are superposed and written upon.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to obviate the disadvantages above referred to, and to this end the present invention provides means for facilitatiing the stripping of the carbon sheets from the worksheets without the necessity of, or in any way altering, the shape or contour (usually rectangular) of the ordinary sheet or form and without cutting out any portion of either the carbon sheet strip or the worksheet strip.

This and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by causing the lines of severance IS in the carbon sheet strips ll to be at variance in contour with the lines of severance ii in the worksheet strips I i, so that when a pile of strips is severed along the lines of severance, in the resulting pile of sheets, marginal portions of the carbon sheets will protrude beyond the adjacent marginal portions of the worksheets at one end of the pile of sheets, while at the other end portions of the worksheets are free of the underlying carbon sheets.

Within the scope of this invention, this variance between the lines of severance I! in the worksheet strips and the lines of severance II in the carbon sheet strips may take different forms, depending, to some extent, upon the form in which the strips are used. For instance, when a pile of strips is rolled up to form a multiple ply roll, such as roll Illa of Fig. 7, the variance may be one of location with reference to the length of the strip as indicated in Fig. 8, in which the lines of perforations l3a in the worksheet strips II are longitudinally displaced, being slightly behind 01' ahead (according to the direction of advance of the strip, which may be either and therefore is immaterial) of the lines of perforations Ila in the carbon strip II. This kind of longitudinally offset and parallel variance between the respective lines of severence is particularly advantageous, for it requires no modification or change in the machine or mechanism for producing the lines of perforations, and it is simply necessary that the carbon sheet strips It or the worksheet strips ll be started one a little in advance of the other when they are placed in the typewriter.

To enable the extent of the advance or longitudinal offset to be predetermined and to keep it constant from time to time, the carbon sheets and the worksheets may be provided with apertures or holes It, as the latter sheets usually are,

means which may be brought into registration by the use of a pencil or appropriately shaped instrument or by automatic means such as the feedin mechanism shown in the Shoup and Oliver Patent No. 1,396,070. When the strips are so provided with aligning apertures IS, the apertures in the worksheet strips II are either closer to or farther from the lines of severance l3a than arethe apertures It in the carbon strips I from the lines of perforations I50, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8. Thus it will be seen that when the pile is severed into sheet lengths, the homologous portions C of the carbon sheets at one end of the pile will protrude beyond the contiguous portions of the worksheets, while at the other end of the pile the homologous portions W of the worksheets will protrude beyond the ends of the carbon sheets. By separately grasping the finger grip portions of these ends C and W of the carbons and worksheets respectively with two hands and then drawing the hands apart, the worksheets and the carbon-sheets may be separated.

The variance between the lines of severance in sheet strips ll which extend at right angles to the side edge I! of the pile of strips. Instead of lying parallel, however, with the lines of perforations l3b, the lines of perforations l5b in the carbon strips may be oblique, intersecting a side edge of the strip at an oblique angle, the point of origin of which is coincident with the terminal of the juxtaposed weakening line in the record strip at the opposite edge l8 of the pile the line of perforations l5b is somewhat in advance or behind, as the case may be, the line of perforations l3b. Accordingly, when the pile of strips is severed along the lines of perforations lib and l5b, triangular finger grip tab portions C of the carbon sheets will be free of the adjacent portions of the worksheets to be grasped together, while portions W of the worksheets are over triangular grip-escaping spaces in the carbon sheets, thereby permitting the worksheets and the carbon sheets to be separately gripped together to be pulled apart and separated. This embodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for use with multiple ply rolls and is an especially advantageous form, since it merely requires that the perforating rule in the perforating machine be set at an angle to the side edge I! of the carbon strips. Like the form shown in Fig. 8, the worksheet strips and the carbon sheet strips may be each provided with apertures l6 adapted to align when the lines of perforations l3b and lib are in proper relative positions.

However, when it is desired to fold the pile of strips II and It in zig-zag fashion, as shown in Fig. 1, it is preferable .that the lines of perforations IS in the carbon strip l4 align and register, at least for the most part, with the perforations l3 in the worksheet strips l I, for when the worksheet strips and carbon sheet strips are so perfoperforations I to and Nb may be in alignment while in pack form and purposely thrown out of alignment or into echelon arrangement by aligning the apertures it before the leading ends'of the strips are introduced into the typewriter.

Howevento avoid the necessity of so oil-setting the strips and permit their use directlyfrom the pack, the present invention, as shown in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, provides the lines of perforations It so as to extend transversely across the strip to a point I! not far from the side margin it of the carbon strip. At this point, however, the line of perforations It varies in contour from that of the line of perforations l3 of the worksheet strips and has a conjoining angularly disposed line of severance 20 deviating from an extension of the major portion of the line. Hence, when the superposed strips ll and M are severed into sheet lengths, a tab 2| is formed on each carbon sheet at one end of the pile of sheets and a corresponding space or vacuity 22 is formed in each of the carbon sheets at the other end of the pile of sheets, the grip-escaping vacuity 22 being formed as a result of the formation of the tabs 2| on the next adjacent carbon sheets of the strips. The weakening lines in the carbon strips are in the assembled pile of strips partially in and partially out of registry with the weakening lines in the record or worksheet strips.

By grasping the tabs 2| and gripping them together with the fingers of one hand and grasping the comers 23 of the worksheets at the other end of the pile of sheets gripping them together with the fingers of the other hand, which may be done because of" the presence of the vacuities 22 in the carbon sheets directly under the corners 23, when the hands are pulled apart the carbon sheets will be separated or stripped from the worksheets. It will be noted that the finger grip portions 2| and grip-escape portions 22 are not preformed and are produced as a result of the severing of the strips into sheet lengths. It will also be noted that the worksheet is rectangular in form and is not in any way altered or mutilated to facilitate the separation of the carbon sheets and the worksheets.

With the forms of the invention disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9, the variance between the lines of perforations I31: and l3b in the carbon strips and the lines of perforations l5a and lib in the worksheet strips is a matter of longitudinal displacement and angularity respectively, and the pile of strips is severed into sheet lengths by pulling on or snapping the written form while the succeedins form is held. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, however, the severing operation may be for the most part along a straight edge, that is to say, the written form may be pulled along some straight object, such as a bar or knife. However, the bar or knife preferably does not extend within the vicinity of the angular line of severance 20 of the carbon sheet or if it does, by the time the tear across the sheet. reaches this point, the pile of written forms is pulled longitudinally of the strip so that the tab M is left on the next succeeding carbon sheet.

The angularly disposed lines of severance 20 may assume difierent forms, I according to the. kind of paper employed for the carbon sheets and according to the method of tearing off the sheets or the method of folding. For instance, as shown in Fig. 2, the line of severance 20 may comprise a line of perforations beginning at the point l9 where the line of perforations l5 stops, or the .line of perforations l5 may continue to the side edge I8 of the carbon sheet as shown in Fig. 5, in which case the line of perforations 20a is preferably made up of longer perforations than the perforations I and made to cross the line of perforations I5 at the point I9, so that when the carbon sheet is severed, the tear will follow the line of least resistance which is the line of longer perforations a. Again, the angular line of severance may be, as shown in Fig. 6, in the form of an incision or slit 20b made to cross the line of perforations I5 at the point I9. Preferably, and to assist in folding and holding the carbon strip under some circumstances, the slit 20 may terminate close to the side edge I8 of the carbon strip leaving a short tie or integral connection 24. In this form, when the sheet is torn ofl the strip, the tear will follow the line of perforations I5 until the slit 20b is reached, and the final pull on the sheet will cause the sheet to tear along the tie 24.

Of course, if desired, the line of severance may be in the form of a slit 200 out in the carbon strip and extending from the point I9 clear to the side edge I8 as shown in Fig. 4.

It has been found in practice that with any of the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the tab 2| and corresponding gripescape ortion 22 will be properly produced in the tear-ofl operation if the final pull on the pile of sheets being severed is substantially longitudinal of the strip.

However, if it is desired that the strips be torn along a straight edge extending for the pull width of the strip, it is preferable that the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 or 6 be employed, and that the worksheet II he provided with a slit 25, see Fig. 11, running from the point 26 directly above the point III on the underlying carbon sheet to a point close to the side edge I8a of the strip leaving a short tie 21. Thus, when the strip is torn along a straight edge to the points I9 and 26, the carbon sheets and the worksheets are separated from the rest of the strips, except for a very small tie 21 on the worksheet if the slit does not extend entirely to the edge of the sheet. This tie 21 and the tie 24 on the carbon sheet will easily be ruptured by a final pull on the sheet.

It is preferable, of course, that no perforations be provided in the carbon sheet beyond the point I9 so that there will be no tendency for the carbon sheet to tear straight across and form a tab 2|. However, by having the perforations I5 extending clear across, the strips will more readily fold transversely. If the sheets are folded by hand, as is generally done, these perforations are I of material assistance in the operation, although it is not essential that they extend clear across the sheet.

In forming perforations I5 and 20, shown in Fig. 2, it is merely necessary to have the perforating rule in the perforationg machine bent or shaped to have the proper contour. To form the slit 20b without the continuation of the perforations I5, the bent end of the perforating rule may be made in the form of a knife to completely pierce the paper. However, if the perforations I5 are to extend clear across the sheet, then a separate slitting or punching die must be employed to produce the slits 20b or slits 200.

It may be that in some instances it is undesirable to form the line of severance in the carbon strip so'that the tab 2I and spaces 22 are formed therein. In this case, the condition may be reversed, as shown in Fig. 10 where the line of perforations lie in the worksheet strip II may have the variance 20d therein, in which case the line of perforations I in the carbon sheet strip will extend perpendicularly from the side edge II to the side edge I8.

Obviously, it is not necessary, with any of the embodiments of the invention herein shown, to employ two hands to separate the carbon sheets from the worksheets, for either the protruding portions W of the worksheets or the protruding portions C of the carbon sheets, in the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9, or the corners 23 of the worksheets or the tabs 2| of the carbon sheets, in the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 6, may be grasped by one hand to hold either the worksheets or the carbon sheets together and permit the sheets not held to fall from among the other sheets by shaking the hand.

Thus it will be seen that an important feature of this invention is the production of the gripescape portions 22 in the carbon sheets as a result of the severing operation, even though the finger grip portions or tabs 2| were not formed at all by the same operation. As a matter of fact, it may perchance occur that the tab would be severed along the extension of the line of perforations I5 accidentally, but if the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is employed, this would not be a serious thing, for although the next pile of sheets might have the carbon sheets without the tabs 2I, it would still have the gripescapes 22 even if in the tearing-off of this next form the tabs I5 were again severed from the succeeding form. With the cut-offs 22, which would be formed by the corners of the carbon sheets falling out in the severing operation, the corners 23 of the worksheets could still b gripped together independently of the carbon sheets and the pile shaken so as to permit the carbon sheets to fall by gravity therefrom,

In the form shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the carbon strips and the worksheet strips are brought into-registration, i. e. the desired predetermined relative positions by means of the apertures I6. With the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive and 10 and 12, the means for bringing the strips into the desired registration consists of the folds 28 produced along the lines of perforations I3 and I5.

In its broader aspects, the present invention contemplates the provision of a tab in one or more of a pile of sheets as the result of the severance of the sheets from strips whether or not the strip having the tab is a carbon strip, for in manifolding work when one time carbon strips are not inserted between the worksheet strips, it may be desired to have one or more of the worksheet strips easily and quickly separated from the others, and in such cases that one or those strips which are to be separated from the rest may be formed and arranged just the same as 'the carbon strip I4 above described.

In the above specification and in the annexed claims, the terms perforations and weakening lines" are intended to include any form of fibre rupture or weakening along which the strips may be torn. The term "homogeneous edge portion is used in the appended claims to denote an edge portion which is left whole, not cut out, or mutilated. For instance as illustrated in Fig. 3, the edge portion to which the reference numeral 23 is applied is not cut out or otherwise changed I from the ordinary letter sheet configuration and hence may be said to be homogeneous.

As has been indicated above, the present in- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to,

obtain Letters Patent, is: i

1. Two sets of continuous manifolding strips interleaved, said strips each having transversely extending weakening lines along which the strips in interleaved condition maybe severed into,

sheet lengths, the weakening lines of one set of strips being offset longitudinally with relation to the weakening lines of the other set so as to produce sheets'having finger-grips at one edge extending beyond the plane of the adjacent edges of the-sheets of the other set, and at the other edge grip-escaping portions under the adjacent edges of the last-mentioned set of sheets when the pile is severed along said weakening lines, whereby said sets of sheets may be independent- 1y grasped to facilitate separation of one set of sheets from the other.

2. Two sets of continuous manifolding strips interleaved, one set being worksheet strips and the other set transfer strips, said strips each having transversely extending weakening lines along which the strips in interleaved condition may be severed into sheet lengths, the weakening lines of one set of strips being at least partially out of registry with the weakening lines in the other set so as to produce sheets having fingergrips at one edge extending beyond the adjacent edge of the sheets of the other set, and at the other edge grip-escaping portions under the 'adjacent edges of the last-mentioned set of sheets when said pile is severed along said weakening lines, whereby the sets of sheets may be independently grasped to facilitate separation of one set from the other.

3'. A plurality of continuous worksheet strips, and a continuous transfer strip interposed between each two adjacent worksheet strips, said strips in superposed condition being adapted to be severed into sets of sheet lengths, the worksheet strips having transversely extending weakening lines producing rectangular sheets when severed along said weakening lines, and each transfer strip having transversely extending weakening lines at least partially out of registry with the weakening lines in the worksheet strips so as to produce sheets having a finger-grip at one end of the transfer sheet extending beyond the adjacent edge of the worksheet, and a gripescaping portion at the other end under the adjacent edge of the worksheet when the pile is severed along said weakening lines, whereby the transfer and worksheet strips may be independently grasped to facilitate the stripping of the transfer sheets from the worksheets.

4. A plurality of continuous worksheet strips, and a continuous transfer strip interposed between each two adjacent worksheet strips, said strips in superposed condition being adapted to be severed into sets of sheet lengths, the worksheet strips having transversely extending weakening lines producing rectangular sheets when severed along said lines, and each'transfer strip having transversely extending weakening lines offset longitudinally from, and parallel to, the weakening lines in the worksheet strips so as to produce sheets having a marginal finger-grip at one end of the transfer sheet extending beyond the adjacent edge of the worksheet, and a marginal grip-escaping portion at the other end under the adjacent edge of the worksheet when the pile is severed along said weakening lines, whereby the transfer sheets and worksheets may be independently grasped to facilitate the stripping of the transfer sheets from the worksheets.

5. A plurality of continuous worksheet strips, and a continuous transfer strip interposed between each two adjacent worksheet strips, said strips in superposed condition being adapted to be severed into sets of sheet lengths, the worksheet strips having transversely extending weakening lines producing rectangular sheets when severed along said lines, and each transfer strip having transversely extending weakening lines having a part in, and a part out of, registry with the weakening lines in the worksheet strips and producing sheets each having a finger-grip tab at one end and a grip-escaping notch at the other end when the transfer strip is severed along said weakening lines, whereby the transfer sheets and worksheets may be independently grasped to facilitate the stripping of' the transfer sheets from the worksheets.

6. A plurality of continuous worksheet strips, and a continuous transfer strip interposed between each two adjacent worksheet strips, said strips in superposed condition being adapted to be severed into sets of sheet lengths, the worksheet strips having straight transversely extending weakening lines producing rectangular sheets when severed along said weakening lines, and each carbon strip having straight transversely extending weakening lines oblique with relation to the weakening lines in the worksheet strips producing transfer sheets each having a triangular finger-grip tab at one end and a triangular grip-escaping space at the other end when the strips are severed along said weakening lines, whereby the transfer sheets and worksheets may be independently grasped to facilitate stripping of the transfer sheets from the worksheets.

7. A continuous transfer strip havingweakening lines extending transversely thereof along which the strip may be severed into sheet lengths, said weakening lines having a part perpendicular with relation to the lateral edge of the strip, and a part deviating from an extension of said perpendicular part to produce a tab extending beyond the latter when the strip is severed along said weakening line, said deviating part being constituted by a line of perforations.

8. A continuous transfer strip having weakening lines extending transversely thereof along which the strip may be severed into sheet lengths,

said weakening lines having a part perpendicular with relation to the lateral edge of the strip, and a part deviating from an extension of said perpendicular part to produce a tab extending beyond the latter when the strip is severed along said weakening line, said deviating part including a slit cut in the strip.

9. A continuous transfer strip having weakening lines extending transversely thereof along which the strip may be severed into sheet lengths, said weakening lines having a part perpendicular with relation to the lateral edge of the strip, and a part deviating from an extension of said perpendicular part to produce a tab extending beyond the latter when the strip is severed along said weakening line, said deviating part including a slit cut in the strip extending close to the adjacent lateral edge thereof. I

10. A continuous transfer strip having weakening lines extending transversely thereof along which the strip may be severed into sheet lengths,

said weakening lines having a part perpendicular with relation to the lateral edge of the strip,

and a part deviating from an extension of said perpendicular part to produce a tab extending beyond the latter when the strip is severed along said weakening line, said deviating part including a slit cut in the strip extending across the perpendicular part of the weakening line.

11. Superposed record strips divided by straight weakening lines to form outer boundaries of registered rectangular record sheets, including weakening lines extending transversely of the strips at intervals, and a transfer strip divided by similarly spaced transverse weakening lines to form a transfer sheet between registered record sheets, a marginal portion of such transfer sheet being inwardly displaced from the corresponding marginal portions of the superposed record sheets, and a portion of another margin of said transfer sheet extending outwardly beyond the corresponding margins of said record sheets.

12. A plurality of superimposed continuous record strips divided at intervals by transverse weakening lines into a succession of superimposed rectangular record sheets, and a continuous transfer strip between adjacent record strips divided at similar intervals into transfer sheets, a marginal portion of each of said transfer sheets extending beyond the contiguous margins of the superimposed record sheets, and another marginal portion of such transfer sheet being onset inwardly oi the corresponding record sheet mar- 13. A plurality of superimposed continuous record strips having aligned transverse lines of weakening at regular longitudinal intervals and an interleaved transfer strip having transverse weakening lines at similar intervals to form a succession of rectangular record sheets with interleaved transfer sheets, alternate transverse marginal portions of successive transfer sheets protruding beyond the corresponding extremities of the superimposed record sheets.

14. Superposed record strips and interleaved transfer strips divided into successive sheets of similar contour by equally spaced transverse weakening lines, the successive lines of the record strips being in registry, and the lines of the transfer strip being longitudinally displaced with respect to adjacent lines of the record strips.

15. Superposed record strips divided at intervals by transverse weakening lines into a succession of superposed record sheets, and an interposed carbon strip having transverse weakening lines spaced to form a carbon sheet between superposed record sheets, and substantially equal in length to such record sheets, said carbon sheet being longitudinally displaced with reference to such record sheets.

16. Superposed record strips and interleaved carbon strips, the record strips being divided into rectangular record sheets by spaced weakening lines, and the carbon strip being similarly divided by weakening lines forming homologous sheet edges extending beyond contiguous sheet edges of the record sheets.

1'1. A manifold pack comprising superposed record and interleaved transfer strips divided into substantially equal rectangular sheets by transverse weakening lines, successive record sheets of the respective record strips being in registry with each other and disaligned with the interposed transfer sheet.

18. A manifold pack comprising record and transfer strips in superposed relation havi g in length, and having a transverse margin extending beyond the adjacent edges of such record sheets. t i

20. Superposed record strips divided at given intervals by weakening lines, and a transfer strip interleaved with adjacent record strips, said transfer strip being divided at similar intervals by a weakening line formed to provide a tab extending beyond the adjacent lines of the superposed record strips.

21. Superposed record strips having at intervals registering transverse weakening lines, and an interposed transfer strip having, at like intervals, transverse weakening lines, the latter lines, respectively, being shaped to form a tab extended beyond the adjacent registered lines of the record strips.

22. Superposed record and transfer strips divided at equal intervals into successive superposed sheets by weakening lines, the lines of the record strips being straight and those of the transfer strip being formed of continuous segments partly aligned and partly disaligned with the adjacent lines of the record strips.

23. Superposed record strips divided at intervals by registered straight transverse weakening lines. and an interleaved carbon strip having. at similar intervals, segmental weakening lines each including a ma or portion in ali nment with the corresponding lines of the record strips and a supplementary portion angularly intercepting the major portion, so as to form a tab.

24. Superposed record strips and a transfer strip interleaved with adiacent record strips, the record strips being divided at intervals by strai ht transverse weakening lines to form registered record sheets, the transfer strip having, at similar intervals. transverse weakenin lines forming a transfer sheet between adiacent record sheets. the latter li es each includin a strai ht segment ali ned with the corresponding lines of the rec rd stri s and a comp ementarv se ment diver ing tn form a proiecting tab. the latter segment including an incisi n intersectin the strai ht se ment and terminating adiacent the outer extrem t of the tab. so as to rovide an inte ral connection between the outer end of said tab and the succee ing transfer sheet.

25. A transfer strin divid d transverselv at intor-va s by weakenin lines to form t ansfer meets join d end to end. said lines each including a strai ht se ment and a complementary se ment diver ing therefrom to form a proiectina tab. the diverging segment including an incision intersecting the straight segment and terminating adjacent the outer end of said tab, so as to leave an integral connection between the outer end of such tab and the succeeding transfer sheet.

26. Superposed record and transfer strips divided into coextensive sets of superposed manifold sheets by equi-spaced transverse weakening lines, the successive weakening lines of the record strips being respectively in registry, the line separating succeeding transfer sheets diverging to form a tab in one and a vacuity in the other.

27. Superposed record strips divided by transverse weakening lines to form rectangular record sheets superposed in registry, and an interposed transfer strip similarly divided to provide a carbon sheet between each set of such record sheets, the weakening linesof said transfer strip being in part aligned with corresponding lines of the record strips and having each a disaligned portion forming a taband vacuity, respectively, in succeeding carbon sheets.

28. A continuous transfer strip divided into a succession of transfer sheets by a series of similar weakening lines placed at form-length intervals and extending transversely of the strip, each such line including a diverging portion forming a tab.

29. A continuous transfer strip divided at intervals to form a succession of transfer sheets of form-lengths and of similar outline by spaced transverse weakening lines, each line intersecting the opposite longitudinal edges of the strip and formed to define a tab on one sheet disposed within a void in the adjoining sheet.

30. A manifolding assembly including, in combination, a plurality of record elements and a transfer element interleaved in manifolding relation with each other, said record and transfer elements having transverse weakened severance lines along which the assembly may be simultaneously severed, said weakened severance lines of said record elements extending directly across the assembly and the weakened severance lines of said transfer element deviating longitudinally of the assembly with reference to the respective record element lines so as to form adjacent relatively offset marginal portions of said record and transfer elements when they are severed along said weakened lines.

31. A manifolding assembly including, in combination, a plurality of record strips and a transfer strip interleaved in manifolding relation with each other, both said record and transfer strips having transverse severance lines along which the assembly of record and transfer strips may be simultaneously severed, at least a portion of the severance line of said transfer strip deviating longitudinally of the assembly with reference to corresponding longitudinally aligned portions of the record strip severance lines so as to form, when severed, a selective-gripping margin in the severed edge of the transfer strip oflfset relative to the adjacent margin of the record strips and through which the adjacent exposed edges of the record strips may be selectively gripped.

32. Continuous record and transfer strips interleaved for manifolding use and collectively separable into sets of superposed record and transfer sheets having respectively gripping and grip-escaping portions to facilitate stripping of the record sheets and transfer sheets from each other, the transfer sheets only having at least a portion of an edge out of registry with superposed homogeneous edge portions of the record sheets for the purpose of providing said gripping and grip-escaping portions.

33. Acontinuous carbon strip having lines of severance extending transversely thereof along which the strip may be severed into sheet lengths, said lines of severance being partially perpendicular with relation to the lateral edge of the strip, and partially offset with relation to said perpendicular portion to produce a tab extending beyond the latter when the strip is severed along said line of severance, said offset portion including a slit cut in the strip extending at least to the perpendicular portion of the line of severance and extending through the adjacent lateral edge of the strip.

34. Two sets of continuous manifolding strips interleaved, said strips each having transversely extending lines of separation including weakening lines along which the strips in interleaved condition may be severed into sheet lengths, the lines of separation of one set of strips being straight and forming rectangular sheets, and the lines of separation of the other set of strips being at least partially out of registry with said straight lines of separation so as to produce sheets having finger grips at one edge extending beyond the adjacent straight edges of the sheets of the other set -when the pile of strips is severed along said lines of severance.

35. Two sets of continuous manifolding strips interleaved, said strips each having transversely extending lines of separation including weakening lines along which the strips in interleaved condition may be severed into sheet lengths, the lines of separation of one set of strips being straight and forming rectangular sheets, and the lines of separation of the other set of strips being at least partially out of registry with said straight lines of separation so as to produce sheets having grip-escape portions at one edge extending inwardly of the adjacent straight edges of the sheets of the other set ,hen the pile is severed along said lines of seve ce.

36. Superposed record and transfer strips divided at equal intervals into successive superposed sheets by weakening lines, the lines in the record strips being straight and intersecting the side edges of the strips at right angles, and the lines in the transfer strips intersecting a side edge of the strip at an oblique angle, the point of origin of which is coincident with the terminal of the juxtaposed weakening line in the record strip.

3'7. Superposed record strips and a transfer strip interleaved with adjacent record strips, the record strips being divided at intervals by straight transverse weakening lines to form registered record sheets, the transfer strip having,

at similar intervals, transverse weakening lines forming a transfer sheet between adjacent record sheets, the latter lines each including a straight segment aligned with the corresponding lines of the record strips and a complementary segment diverging from the straight segment and extending to the adjacent side edge of the transfer strip to form a projecting tab at the corner of the transfer sheet.

38. Superposed record strips divided by straight weakening lines to form outer boundaries of registered rectangular record sheets, including weakening lines extending transversely of the strips at intervals, and a transfer strip divided by similarly spaced transverse weakening lines to form a transfer sheet between registered record sheets, a marginal portion of such transfer sheet being inwardly displaced from the corresponding marginal portions of the superposed record sheets, and a portion of another margin of said transfer sheet extending outwardly beyond the corresponding margins of said record sheets, and aligning holes in the strips for controlling the relative positions of the strips.

istered rectangular record sheets, including weakening lines extending transversely of the strips at intervals, and a transfer strip divided by similarly spaced transverse weakening lines to form a transfer sheet between registered record sheets, a marginal portion of such transfer sheet being inwardly displaced from the corresponding marginal portions of the superposed record sheets, and a portion of another margin of said transfer sheet extending outwardly beyond the corresponding margins of said record sheets, and aligning holes in the strip for controlling the relative positions of the strips and the registration of the record strips with each other.

40. A manifold pack comprising superposed record and interleaved transfer strips divided into substantially equal rectangular sheets by transverse weakening lines, successive record sheets of the respective record strips being in registry with each other and disaligned with the interposed transfer sheet whereby to provide respectively gripping and grip-escape portions, and means for controlling the extent of disalignment of the transfer sheet.

41. A pile of continuous interleaved records and transfer strips having weakened severance lines at sheet length intervals along which sheets may be successively severed from said strips whereby to form successive new ends of the pile, superposed portions of the leading transverse margins of the record sheet lengths and transfer sheet lengths being relatively longitudinally offset thereby to provide at each new end of the pile finger grip and finger grip-escape portions, the one on-the records strips and the other on the transfer strips.

42. superposed record strips divided by straight weakening lines to form outer boundaries of registered rectangular record sheets, including weakening lines extending transversely of the strips at intervals, and a transfer strip divided by similarly spaced transverse weakening lines to form a transfer sheet between registered record sheets,

a marginal portion of such transfer sheet being inwardly displaced from the corresponding marginal portions of the superposed record sheets, and a portion of another margin of said transfer sheet extending outwardly beyond the corresponding margins of said record sheets, said record and transfer strips in interleaved condition being zigzag folded along the weakening lines of the record strip to form a pack whereby said record and transfer strips are maintained in relative position in the pack.

43. superposed record and transfer strips divided into coextensive sets of superposed manifold sheets by equi-spaced transverse weakening lines, the successive weakening lines of the record strips being respectively in registry, the line separating succeeding transfer sheets diverging to form when severed a tab on one sheet and a recess in the other sheet, the tab on one transfer sheet filling the recess in the adjacent transfer sheet until a set of superposed record and transfer sheets is severed along said weakening lines.

44. superposed record strips having at intervals registering transverse weakening lines, and an interposed transfer strip having, at like intervals, transverse weakening lines, the latter lines, respectively, being shaped to form a tab extending beyond the adjacent registered lines of the record strips, and the weakening lines in the record strips each including a slit at that portion which is superposed with the base of the tab.

45. superposed record strips having at intervals registering transverse weakening lines, and an interposed transfer strip having, at like intervals, transverse weakening lines, the latter, respectivelyybeing provided with a slit shaped to form a tab extending beyond the adjacent registered lines of the record strips. and the weakening lines in the record strips each including a slit at that portion which is superposed with the base of the tab.

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON. 

